NZ280079A - Shearing comb file having only one channel on one or each surface - Google Patents

Description

Pal. 5 NEW ZEALAND tiNC w icnLnnu ts Form 0 d q q 7 ** No. 5 .• '< i '/Z\ 6 H , -* o\ , is SEP 1996 fi^V (a) Insert title of Invention.

PATENTS ACT 1953 complete specification (To be furnished in Duplicate) (a) I i''{CK^r\\C Where priority as provided by subsection (2) or (3) of section II of the Patents Act 1953 is desired in respect of one or more provisional specifications, quote number or numbers and date or dates 23007*1 No.

Date. 22 com)3 (b) State (in full) name, address and nationality of applicant or applicants as in application form ici Here begin full description of invention. The continuation of the specification should be upon paper of the same size as this Tern, on one side only with the lines well spaced and with a margin of 2.5cm on the left hand side of the paper. The completion of the description should be followed by ti;c words "What I (or we) claim is" afier which should be written the claim or claims numbered consecutively (see note below). The specification and the dup-licate thereof must be signed at the end. (b) I'd, Vfifi 1u77 ( CWc •?>«• H 1 <1 * :■ v C\' ..4;'-.

JL<x ^-ck ( -1 uz.^ HEREBY declare the invention, for which l/we pray that a patent may be granted to me/us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: (c) NOTE. The claims must relate to a single invention, must be clear and succinct, and must be fairly based on the matter disclosed in the specification. They should form in brief a clear statement of that which constitutes the invention. Applicants should be careful that their claims include neither more nor less than they desire to protect by their patent. Any unnecessary multiplicity of claims or prolixity of language should be avoided.

Claims should not be made for the efficiency or advantages of the invention.

I u / " A CERAMIC SHEARING COMB FILE The invention relates to a filing implement generally, and to a filing device which is specifically designed to maintain and improve the shape of the tips of shearing comb 5 teeth in particular. Although the present invention will be described with reference to one form of the filing device it is to be noted that the scope of the present invention is not restricted to this device but rather extends to include other devices and applications.

In a reciprocating shearing hand piece the functions of the comb, particularly the comb teeth, are to: part the wool fibres during entry into the wool fleece, allow the handpiece to freely glide over the 15 surface of the skin of a sheep, and act as a fixed cutting implement.

A shearing comb comprises a certain number of teeth. The tips of the comb teeth have a semihemispherical jhape which facilitates entry into the wool without causing undue 20 damage to the sheep and to provide more efficient shearing. On the comb face that has contact with the sheep's skin, the comb teeth have rounded surfaces to facilitate smooth movement over the sheep's skin.

The comb face in contact with the movable cutting part of 25 the hand piece, the cutter, has a flat surface, allowing cutting of the wool fibres by a scissor-like action between the comb and the cutter. To maintain a flat face on this comb face and to maintain sharp cutting edges, such as at the sides of the teeth, the comb is ground at regular 30 intervals when in use. - 1 A Grinding the comb, whilst maintaining the cutting edge, alters the semihemispherical shape on the tip of the comb teeth to be "out of round". This deviation alters the ability of the comb to successfully perform the function of wool entry. Therefore, there is a need to sharpen the comb whilst maintaining the semihemi spherical shape of the comb teeth tips.

One way of achieving this requirement is to use a comb file. The purpose of the shearing comb file is to maintain and improve the semihemispherical shape of the comb teeth by moving the file in an accurate and uniform action over the tip and sides of the teeth.

Shearing conditions will vary in terms of the softness of the sheep's skin and the density of the wool fibre.

Maximum shearing performance is obtained by altering the size of the semihemispherical shape of the comb tooth tip in accordance with the varying sheep conditions at hand.

To date, achieving the necessary degree of finish to restore the comb teeth tips has been restricted to highly skilled individuals. The comb file of the present invention allows shearers to perform this operation easily. At present the complex maintenance and improvement of shearing comb teeth is achieved by hand using a piece of fine grade abrasive paper. For many shearers, this activity produces flat spots on the comb teeth tips, commonly known as "dropped teeth". Combs so treated, if used, greatly increase the chance of the comb picking up skin, thereby resulting in increased skin cuts.

The comb file of the present invention gives a shearer the ability to perform the complex task of maintaining and improving a shearing comb by reshaping the tips of the teeth of the comb that previously has only been achieved by those shearers with a high degree of skill in comb maintenance. 280079 The rounded surface of the shearing comb teeth during use may become chipped or pitted. The shearing comb file may be used to restore a smooth finish to the surface of such combs.

According to the present invention there is provided a shearing comb filing device suitable for reshaping a tooth of a shearing comb comprising an elongate body of a substantially abrasive material, said body provided with at least one channel means for receiving a portion of a tooth 10 of the shearing comb wherein, in use, movement of the device relative to the tooth when received in the channel means permits reshaping of the tooth to a desired preselected profile or shape.

The present invention typically provides a shearing comb 15 filing device suitable for use with the teeth of a shearing comb comprising a length of fine-grit hard-wearing abrasive ceramic material. The ceramic material is provided with a number of V-shaped channels with semicircular concavities in the base of the V-shaped channels, which is to say the 20 floor of the valley of the channels is substantially concave.

A shearing comb tooth tip is reshaped by using the file of the present invention by drawing the V-shaped channel of the file across the tip of the comb teeth in a rolling 25 arcuate sweeping motion, backwards and forwards, or alternatively in one direction. The fine abrasive material removes metal from the side and the tip of the comb tooth but leaves the tip with a semihemispherical shape of the desired size and profile, and a highly polished finish, 30 thus permitting efficient use of the comb without injuring the sheep.

The internal walls of the V-shaped channels are used to reduce the thickness of the sides of the comb teeth ; ; / vr immediately adjacent to the semihemispherical comb tooth tip. The concave floor of the valley formed between the opposed V-shaped sides is used to round off the tips of the teeth into the desired semihemispherical shape.

The file of the present invention is provided with any number of V-shaped channels, each with a different specific diameter measurement in the semicircular concavity of the channel or valley floor.

In order to attain maximum performance in particular 10 shearing conditions, the user is able to choose the channel which provides the most appropriate finish to the shearing comb teeth.

The length of the comb file need not be of a fixed length, but the length may be variable.

The present form of the invention incorporates two V-shaped channels each with different diameter measurements in the semicircular concavities. The two V-shaped channels are located on different sides or faces of the file.

Preferably, the channels are located on opposite faces to 20 each other.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of the comb file of the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the comb file of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a partial side elevation view of the comb file and a comb tooth demonstrating positioning of the tooth in the channel of the file in use; 280079 Figure 4 shows a partial side elevation view of the comb file and a comb tooth demonstrating positioning of the tooth in the channel of the file in use following on a short time later from Figure 3; Figure 5 shows a cross-section of the comb file and a partial plan view of the teeth of a comb demonstrating positioning of the file when in use; Figure 6 shows a cross-section of the comb file said a partial plan view of a comb demonstrating positioning of the file when in use a short time later than shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 shows a partial side elevation view of a comb tooth with shading indicating the area of metal capable of being removed when the file is used; Figure 8 shows a partial plan view of a comb tooth along the line A-A of Figure 7 with shading indicating area of metal capable of being removed when file is used.

One form of the comb file of the present invention comprises an elongated solid abrasive ceramic body (1) having two V-shaped channels (2) and (3) running along the entire length of the body on opposite edges or sides from each other.

The V-shaped channels (2), (3) have semicircular concavities in the base or floor of the V-shaped valleys (4) and (5).

The diameters of the semicircular concavities can be the same or are of differing measurements.

The file can have any number of channels. jjgoom The channels may be of any profile and size.

In operation, the tip of the tooth of a shearing comb is 5 located in the channel with the tip resting against the semicircular concavity (4), (5) of tke channel, and the file is moved in a backwards and forwards arcuate sweeping motion, or alternatively is moved in one direction only.

In addition, when the tooth tip is received in the channel, the file can be moved or rocked arcuately from side to side to form the desired profile for the tooth tip or tooth edge. 1iSSJS5Sii^^ - 6 w ® receive n H:\Sigrid\Keep\patents\gC31604-white.doc 22/04/98

Claims (19)

2 0 a 7 7 THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1.

A shearing comb filing device suitable for 5 reshaping individual teeth of a shearing comb one at a time comprising an elongate body of a substantially abrasive material having two or more surfaces, said body provided with a single channel means only on each surface having a channel means, said channel means for receiving an 10 individual tooth of the shearing comb, wherein, in use, movement of the device relative to the tooth when received in the channel means permits reshaping of the individual tooth to a desired preselected profile or shape. 15 2. A shearing comb filing device according to claim 1 in which the elongate body is made of a substantially abrasive ceramic material.

3. A shearing comb filing device according to claim 2 0 1 or 2 in which there are two, three, four or more surfaces and each surface provided with a channel means has a single channel means only.

4. A shearing comb filing device according to claim 25 3 in which more than two surfaces are provided with a channel means.

5. A shearing comb filing device according to any preceding claim in which the or each channel means is a 3 0 substantially V-shaped channel or groove.

6. A shearing comb filing device according to claim 5 in which the V-shaped channel or groove is provided with semicircular concavities or the floor of the V-shaped 35 valley is substantially co

7. A shearing comb 6 in which the diameter o£ or curvature of the concavities or concave floor of the different channels where provided are different from each other.

8. A shearing comb filing device according to claim 6 or 7 in which the different shaped concavities or curvatures correspond to the size of different teeth of the comb so that one of the channels or grooves is selected to reshape a particular tooth.

9. A shearing comb filing device according to any preceding claim in which the elongate body is substantially W-shaped in cross-section.

10. A shearing comb filing device according to any preceding claim in which there are two V-shaped channels or grooves.

11. A shearing comb filing device according to claim 10 in which the two channels are located on opposite sides, faces or edges of the filing device.

12 A method of reshaping the tooth of a shearing comb using a .substantially abrasive shearing comb filing /a s claimed i*i ch/M I device^provided with one or more channel means, comprising selecting an or the appropriately sized channel means in accordance with the size of the particular tooth being reshaped, locating at least a portion of the tooth in the channel means and moving the filing device relative to the tooth whereby movement of the filing device in use effects reshaping of the at least portion of the tooth.

13. A method according to claim 12 in which the movement is a substantially reciprocating movement.

14. A method according to claim 12 in movement is in one direction. H:\Sigrid\Keep\patents\cfJ1604-vty OFFICE IS JUn ufaj te -4&c 16/05/98 r|ceived

15. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 14 in which the movement is a rolling arcuate sweeping motion generally along the lengthwise extending axis of the tooth. 5

16. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 15 in which the movement is a side to side rolling arcuate sweeping motion generally transverse to the lengthwise extending axis of the tooth. 10

17. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 16 using the filing device of any one of claims 1 to 11.

18. A shearing comb filing device substantially as 15 hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

19. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings. 20 Dated: PETER MILLER WHITE